Upon arriving at the Family History Library back in 1992, we found ourselves in the International Section in the first basement level. Some helpful volunteers at the information desk helped us look up Olpe in the computer system.
According to the computer, they had microfilm records on file for two churches in Olpe in the 1800’s – a Lutheran Church and a Catholic Church. Of course, we zeroed in on the Catholic Church (duh!). Taking the obituary at face value, we requested the microfilm that contained records for 1843, the year Joseph was born.
Here’s a digital scan of a photocopy of a microfilm copy of the cover of the church’s record book (that explains the poor quality). The words can be translated as follows:
Olpe, Kath. (Olpe, Catholic)
Geburten (Births)
Heiraten (Weddings)
Todesfälle (Deaths)
We loaded the microfilm into the reader and turned the crank until we came to 1843.
And this is what we found. Next post, I’ll show you what it all means.
